Shaker chute construction



Oct. 30, 1934. D. U. RICH SHAKER CHUTE CONSTRUCTION Filed March l5, 1954 g lil l 'Il Il IN VENT OR 20 2 afmid Z'CL BY @7X/W' ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 30, 1934 PATENT OFFICE 1,978,648 SHAKER CHUTE CONSTRUCTION Donald U. Rich, Teaneck, N. J., assignor to American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., av corporation of New Jersey Application March 15, 1934, Serial No. '715,629l

11 Claims.

to another, and known generally in the art as shaker chutes.

One object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved shaker chute construction. Another object of this invention is the provision of a shaker chute `construction embodying a ball frame and a trough supported thereby in `such a manner as to permit substantially universal rocking movement thereof relative to the ball frame.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a shaker chute construction embodying a ball frame" and a trough connected :for reciprocation therewith, the ball frame andconnecting means for the trough being relatively so formed and arranged as to permit independent longitudinal and transverse rocking movement of the trough relative `to the ball frame. A

Still another object of this invention is the provision'of a shaker chute construction embodying a ball frame and a trough supported thereby through the medium of a connecting element which is interttingly supported by the ball frame. A further object of this invention is the provision of a shaker chute construction comprising a ball frame and a trough connected therewith for reciprocation, the ball frame and connecting element for the trough being relatively so lformed andarranged that a substantially single-point support is provided for the trough which is adapted to permitindependent longitudinal and transverse rocking of the trough relative to the ball frame.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved ball frame for shaker chutes. i f i i i The present invention bears a certain relation `to and is an improvement on the shaker chute construction `in my co-pending applicatiom Serial No. 700,856, filed December 4, 1933, but, in contrasuch a condition itis necessary that shaker chute constructions be of such a character as to permit rocking movement'of the trough relative to the ball frame. In view of this, the present invention contemplates the supporting of a trough at a single point located intermediate the side edge portions of the reciprocable body member of a ball frame, said support being dened by complemental intertted portions on, the body member and the connecting element for the trough whereby substantially a universal movement of the trough relative to the ball frame is permitted; the support being generally in the nature of a typical ball-and-socket joint.

` Other objects and advantagesof this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:AV

Figure 1 is` a top plan View of the ball frame of the present invention,` certain parts being shown in section; h

Fig. 2 isa side elevation of the ball frame shown in Fig. 1,-certain parts thereof being shown in section on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the connecting element;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5, Fig. 3, showing the connecting element in longitudinally rocked position; and

Fig.,6 is` a fragmentary detail View, partly in section, showing the trough in transverse rocked position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, in which similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the several views, the ball frame of the present invention vcomprises a base frame A and a reciprocab'le body member B with which a trough section C` is connected through the medium of a connecting element in- `dicated generally` at D.

The base frame A is similar to that shown in my co-pending application above referred to and comprises spaced channel shaped supporting elements 2 connected by upwardly extending inwardly facing angle' members '4 4constituting guide-Ways or 'tracks for anti-friction elements such as the balls 6 which latter support the body member B in a manner now to be described.

The body member B comp-rises a metal plate pressed to the form shown in the drawing to provide a body portion 8 having marginal side and end flanges 10 and l2 respectively 4constituting stii-ening elements; the end flanges 12 having angle members 14 secured thereto by fasteners 16 and constituting upper track members which rest on the balls 6 and project beneath inturned `ilanges 18 formed at the upper edge portions of the angles 4.. The Vfasteners 16 also secure spacer lic members 20 adapted to retain the balls 6 in spaced relation.

The main body portion 8 of the plate B slopes downwardly from approximately the center line of the plate to the end flanges 12 as more clearly shown in Fig. 3 at 19 and said body portion is provided with a slot 22 formed lengthwise of the plate into which the depending leg 24 of the connecting element D extends, the latter being secured to the bottom surface of the trough section C by spaced pairs of rivets 26 arranged adjacent the end portions of the connecting element as clearly shofwn in Fig. 4. The connecting element C in the instance shown is a T section, the rivets 26 extending through the head portion 28 thereof. In addition to the rivets the T 4may be connected to the trough section C by being welded to the latter along its side and end portions as shown at 30.

Formed substantially centrally in the body portion 8 of the body member B is a socket 32 constituting a bearing portion which is adapted to receive a downwardly projecting ybearing element 34 formed adjacent the leg 24 of the connect-ing element D. The before-mentioned slot 22 cuts through the 'socket 32 as shown clearly in Fig. 1 and, as more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the bearing portion 32 and bearing element 34 are complementally 'formed so that connecting ele ment D is substantially intertted in the body member B at the socket 32. The socket 32 and bearing element 34 are substantially semi-spherical in general contour, the resulting construction being substantially a ball-and-socket joint which will permit substantially universal rocking movement of the trough relative to the ball frame. Fig. 5 shows the connecting element D in a longitudinally rocked position with respect to the body member B and Fig. 6 shows the trough and connecting element in a transverse rocked position with respect to the body member B.

In use a nu'mlber of trough sections are connected end to end and each thereof is supported on a ball frame. A main driving unit is adapted to reciprocate the connected troughs and during reciprocation the body member B reciprocates relative to the base frame and on the anti-friction elements 6. Should inequalities in the mine floor be present such that the several ball frames, more particularly the base frames thereof, are not uniformly horizontally `alined, the troughs are permitted to have substantially a universal rocking movement with respect to the ball frame as will be obvious. Due to the fact that the body portion 8 of body member B is so formed as to provide the downwardly sloping portions 19 it will be apparent that in all positions of the trough relative to the body member the fastening elements 26 are maintained clear of frictional engagement with the body member.

The drawing herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention but it is to ybe understood that it is for illustrative purposes only and various changes in the form and proportions of the device may be made within the scope of the appended claims without -departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a shaker chute, a trough, a ball frame having a reciprocable body member, and a connecting element secured to the trough and extended into the body member, said body member and connecting element having interiitted bearing portions so :formed and Aarranged as to permit substantially universal rocking movement of the trough relative to the ball frame.

2. In a shaker chute, a trough, a ball frame having a reciprocable body member, and a connecting element secured to the trough and extended into the body member, said body member and connecting element having complemental intertted bearing portions so formed and arranged as to permit substantially universal rocking movement of the trough relative to the ball frame.

3. In a shaker chute, a trough, a ball frame having a reciprocable body member, and a connecting element secured to the trough and extended into the body member, said body member and `connecting element having complemental intertted portions so formed and arranged as to permit independent longitudinal and transverse rocking of the trough relative to the ball frame.

4. In a ball frame for shaker chutes, a base frame comprising spaced trackways, anti-friction elements movably supported on the trackways, and a trough supporting body member reciprocably mounted on said anti-friction elements and comprising a plate having downwardly extending marginal flanges, the said plate sloping gradually upward from opposite end portions thereof to a point substantially midway between said end portions, and a depressed bearing portion formed in said plate substantially midway between the end portions.

5. In a shaker chute, a trough, a ball frame having a reciprocable body member, and a connecting element secured to the trough and extended into the body member, said body member and connecting element having complementally formed intertted portions at a point substantially midway between the end portions of said body member constituting a single-point support for said trough, said interfitted portions being so formed and arranged as to permit independent rocking movement of the trough relative to the ball frame.

6. A ball frame for use with shaker chutes comprising a reciprocably mounted body member having a main body portion and depending marginal flanges, said body portion sloping upwardly from the end portions thereof to a line substantially midway between said end portions and said body member having a depressed bearing portion formed therein substantially midway between the end portions thereof.

'7. In a shaker chute, a trough, a connecting element secured tothe trough and provided with a downwardly projecting bearing element substantially midway between its ends, and a ball frame having a reciprocable body member into which said connecting element extends, said body member having an integrally formed bearing portion in which the before-mentioned bearing element is seated, said bearing element and bearing portion being so arranged as to provide a singlepoint support for the trough whereby to permit longitudinal and transverse rocking movement of the trough independently of the body member.

` 8. In a shaker chute, a trough, a connecting element secured to the trough and including a depending portion, a projecting bearing element 'formed substantially midway between the ends of said connecting element and adjacent the depending portion, and a ball frame having a reciprocable body member into which said depending portion extends, said body member having a depressed bearing portion receiving said bearing element.

9. In a shaker chute, a trough, a ball frame having spaced tracks, a reciprocable body member extending between said tracks, and a connecting element secured to said trough and extended into the body member, said body member and connecting element having complementally formed interfitted bearing portions positioned substantially midway between the ends of said body member and so arranged as to permit independent longitudinal and transverse rocking movement of the trough.

10. In a shaker chute, a trough, a ball frame having a reciprocable body member, and a connecting element secured to the trough and extended into the body member, said body member and connecting element having complementally formed intertted bearing portions constituting a single point support for said trough, said intertted portions being so formed and arranged as to permit independent rocking movement of the trough.

11. In a shaker chute, a trough, a connecting element secured to the trough and provided with a bearing element, and a ball frame having a reoiprocable body member into which said connecting element extends, said body member having an integrally formed bearing portion in which the bearing element is seated, said bearing element and bearing portion being so arranged as to provide a single point support for the trough whereby to permit substantially universal rocking movement of the trough independently of the body member.

DONALD U. RICH. 

